panels

portable panels

Pro: Panel can be in sun while car is in shade. Can be secured when not in use. Can be aimed at the sun. Con: Expensive per watt. Newbies commonly underestimate how much power is required. Voltage drop from long wiring runs. Must be aimed at the sun1), which would require repositioning every couple of hours. Portability increases risk of theft. Can be urinated on by dogs.2)

Each type of portable panel has it's own strengths and weaknesses.

small framed panels

These are the type of rigid-frame panel that folks mount on their roof, but usually smaller to keep weight and storage size down.

briefcases

Briefcases are typically 2-4 small panels hinged together. The suitcase folds up after use.

Pro: Fold for easier storage. Built-in handle makes carrying easier. Con: Most expensive per watt. Relatively heavy. Can be fiddly. Subject to mechanical wear from setup and teardown. Some have a built-in charge controller, resulting in very long runs between controller and battery.3)

semi-flexible panels

Semi-flexible panels are basically the panel part of a framed panel without the frame. In the past these were usually amorphous4) cells but now it is common to see mono and, to a lesser degree, poly.

Pro: Very light. Extremely thin, which allows it to be slid into narrow storage. Con: Can blow away in wind. Much easier to damage than framed panels; consider the lifetime of these panels to be a few years rather than decades. Roughly 2x as expensive as framed panels.

encased panels

Low yield panels (10w-25w) encased in hard plastic. Most often seen in backpacking scenarios or on dashboard “battery maintainers”.

When rack-mounting panels, mount them flush with or on top of the rack. This will prevent the rack from shading the panels.

To prevent theft the panel could be attached with tamper-proof fasteners.

Pro: Can use normal, inexpensive panels. Greater output due to bigger panel. Greater output because it is always deployed. Flat-mounted panels do not need to be re-aimed at the sun. Con: Initial installation. Running wires to vehicle interior. Vehicle must remain in the sun.